Acquisition and turnaround vehicle Generating substantial shareholder value Focus on hands-on investment
SVELLA IS AN EXPERIENCED TEAM OF BUSINESS LEADERS WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF CREATING SHAREHOLDER VALUE
We are a people-focused business that works in partnership with our acquisitions to improve performance, through a combination of management focused strategic improvements, to create shareholder value across a number of UK industry sectors.
We are an acquisition and turnaround vehicle founded by serial entrepreneurs who, as former executives of Stobart Group, have created significant shareholder value across a diverse range of industries.
The team prides itself in detailed operational management and entrepreneurial skills to drive business performance.
The board has extensive experience and a background in unlocking the potential and improving the performance of investee companies.
Andrew Tinkler
Andrew is one of the UK’s most successful and visionary entrepreneurs. His strong business instinct was the driving force behind the creation of the UK's best known logistics conglomerate. As CEO of Stobart Group, his combination of strategic thinking and visionary financial approach helped spot multiple investment and clever business diversification opportunities, seeing it became a FTSE 250 company with a market capitalisation of £1bn in 2017. Andrew’s ability to not only identify value, but also spearhead the structural and operational changes required to realise this value, was critical to the success of the Group.
Andrew delivered an average annual shareholder return of 26.1% over 9.5 years at the helm until stepping down in July 2017. He was voted IoD North West Director of the Year in 2006 for his remarkable achievements in turning around the fortunes of Eddie Stobart.
Ben Whawell
Ben is a highly driven and successful Plc and private company Executive Director. Between 2004 and 2017, Ben was a key part of the Executive Team at Stobart Group, growing a private investment of £1m into £1.6bn across two listed companies, Stobart Group and Eddie Stobart Logistics. From 2007 to 2016, he performed the role of group CFO and was awarded the North West Financial Director of the Year Award in 2009, 2012 and 2013.
Ben also spent 18 months as interim CEO of London Southend Airport, laying the foundations for the future passenger and value growth. From 2017 to 2020 he was CEO of Stobart Energy, delivering significant infrastructure projects, structural change and process improvement which led to an increase in EBITDA of more than 165% from £9.1m to £24.2m.
Mike Fletcher
Mike is founder and managing partner of Arete Capital Partners, a multi-family investment office established in September 2020.
He is the Chairman of Inspired Energy Plc and also a Non-executive Director of SysgroupPlc.
Mike was previously a founder and former group CEO of Praetura, a specialist provider of equity venture capital and a Managing Director of investment bank GCA Altium.
John Story
After graduating from St Andrews University in 2009, John began his career at KPMG. He soon moved into industry and in 2014 was named Finance Director of Story Contracting, in his three years the business increased turnover from £36m to £104m.
John also served as Finance Director for Story Homes and Cumbria regional Managing Director from 2018 to 2020.
In 2015 John was named the ICAEW Young Finance Professional of the Year.
OUR TEAM
OUR BOARD
Holly Loudon
Holly is a highly experienced commercial lawyer and serves as In-House Counsel. Holly was previously Head of Legal at Stobart Group, Senior Group Legal Manager at Princes Limited and qualified in the international law firm Hammonds (now Squire Patton Boggs).
Daniel Sofaer
Daniel is a corporate finance professional who, prior to joining Stobart Capital upon its formation in 2017, worked in the big four and Bulge Bracket investment banks. Daniel is a Chartered Accountant.
Gareth Vaughan
Gareth is a commercial accountant who was formerly on the board of Stobart Energy. Previously, Gareth worked at Grant Thornton and is a Chartered Accountant.
Darcie Rae
Darcie is a Chartered Accountant who joined the team in July 2022 having previously worked as a senior manager in a mid-tier corporate finance team.